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Biomedical subjects

H C Mwandumba

Publications and source records attributed to H C Mwandumba.

3 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Fully intermittent dosing with drugs for tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: The number of people infected with tuberculosis continues to rise world-wide. Rifampicin-containing treatment regimens can achieve high cure rates. Intermittent drug treatment delivered in the community has the potential to improve adherence to treatment. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this review was to compare the effectiveness of rifampicin-containing short-course chemotherapy regimens, given two or three times a week, with similar regimens given daily in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group trials register, the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, Medline, and reference lists of articles. We contacted experts in the field. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised and quasi-randomised trials of any multi-drug regimen containing rifampicin in patients with confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis. Treatment had to be given up to three times a week for up to nine months, with any initial daily dosing period not more than one month, and was compared to daily dosing throughout for the same period. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers independently assessed trial eligibility and quality. MAIN RESULTS: One trial involving 399 patients was included. The trial compared treatment three times per week with daily treatment for six months. There was no difference in cure rate (198 out of 199 people in the intermittent group compared to all 200 in the daily group), but 5 patients relapsed in the group receiving intermittent therapy compared to one in the group receiving the daily regimen. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: There is not enough evidence to assess the equivalence of effect between fully intermittent, rifampicin-containing short-course chemotherapy and similar daily therapy in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Larger randomised studies are required to establish the effectiveness of fully intermittent, short-course chemotherapy.

Antitubercular Agents↗
PubMed2000

Pyogenic lung infections: factors for predicting clinical outcome of lung abscess and thoracic empyema.

Lung abscess and thoracic empyema continue to cause significant morbidity and mortality despite appropriate antibiotic therapy and various options for drainage of empyema. Multiple factors, including the patient's general state of health, the presence of underlying disease, the virulence of the pathogen responsible, and the promptness of drainage of empyema, appear to dictate the clinical outcome. However, the available data are derived from uncontrolled, retrospective studies and the high morbidity and mortality rates underscore the need for large prospective studies to better evaluate factors that may predict the clinical outcome of these conditions.

Drainage↗
PubMed1999

Pyogenic lung infections.

Pyogenic lung infections still occur despite the availability of effective antibiotics for the treatment of patients with acute bacterial pneumonia. Our understanding of the pathogenesis and management of these conditions has steadily improved over the past few decades, although some areas remain obscure. The effect of HIV infection on the incidence of pyogenic lung infections remains largely unknown, and large studies are required to evaluate this. Burkholderia (formerly Pseudomonas) cepacia strains are now recognized as important respiratory pathogens in patients with cystic fibrosis, and the high transmissibility of some strains, combined with their inherent multiple antibiotic resistance, are continuing causes for concern.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗